Improvement in cultivators



L B. WATERMAN.

Wheel Cultivator. I

Patented June- 21, 1864.

NPETERS. PHDTOLITHDGRAPHER. WASHINGTON n d.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orrrca.

L. B. VVATERMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, E. W. SIMONDS, AND P. A. FISCHER.

IMPROVEMENT IN CULTIVATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 13,268, dated June 21, 1864.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE B. \VATER MAN, of the city of Chicago, county of (look, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wheeled Gultivators; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being h ad to the accompanying draw ings, forming a part of my specification.

To enable others skilled in the art to which my invention relates, I will now proceed to describeits construction and operation with reference to the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of my improved cultivator; Fig. 2, a top view of the same; Fig. 3, a rear end view with the wheels removed, and Fig. 4 a front end view with wheels removed.

Similar letters of reference in the several figures indicate corresponding parts. I

The first. feature of my invention consists in an auxiliary supporting wheeled contrivance applied directly to hinged or jointed adjustable beams in such manner that while the whole frame and its attachments ride upon the main propelling-wheels the rear ends of the shovel-beams ride directly upon the auxiliary contrivance. By this feature of invention the dragging to too great an extent of the rear shovels is obviated. The depth of the entrance of these shovels into the ground may be gaged and the machine will offer less back pull in the performance of a given amount of work.

The second feature of my invention consists in a flexible but firmly staying system of bracing between each pair of beams, this bracing being in connection with independently pendent beams and an elevated arch or other passage-way for growing plants. By this feature of my invention I secure the desired flexibility between the beams when one is required to move independent of its fellow, and at such time as when both beams move together or retain a like position I have what is equivalent to a stiff braced arch.

The third feature of my invention consists in a horizontally-swinging draft-evener applied behind the axle, in connection with draftrods supported in rear and front bearings, the

front ends.

tion of a wheeled cultivator which shall be capable of dressing or cultivating simultanously both sides of a given row-as, for instance, of young cornas well as one of the sides of two adjoining rows, and which machine, while in the act of use, shall be capable of having its working points or shovels adjustable ina lateral direction by the hand of driver while occupying his seat, according as ment, owing to inequalities of the ground or other circumstances incident to the work.

of applying the propelling power, as will be hereinafter described likewise supporting the rear shovels.

As shown in the figures, Aindicates the main frame-beam, beneath which bent axles B B are permanently secured in any suitable manner for the reception oftransporting-wheels O O. From D D project, and which are let into and secured to front cross-beam, A, into which'latter hanging supports G G are framed for sustain ing the forward ends of the independent adjustable cultivating-frames of the machine, to which the cultivating'shovels or plows are immediately attached, as will be hereinafter described. From beamA obliquely-set braces H hanging supportsG G, and, being permanently secured therewith, impart stability to the several parts named.

and J, as shown, the rear end of said pole extending sufficiently back of the main beam J to afford a proper support for the drivers seat K, as well as a point of attachment for a draftevener, L, which is held in position upon the draft-pole by the pivot a. Jointed draft-rods, as at b b, extend forward from the ends of the evener L, and are retained at their forward ends in adj usting-plates c 0. These plates, as shown, are attached in front of the cross-beam A, and their lower portions are provided with draft-rods heingjointed and adjustable at their The object of my invention is the construe the driver, or vertically by the feet of the the work performed may requlre such adjust- It also has for its object an improved mode I the main frame-beam A horizontal side beams H extend down to near the lower end of the l 1 represents the draft-pole or tongue of the machine, and is securely attached to beams A 2 macs open slots d for the retention of the draft-rods, and into any one of which said rods may be adjusted. To effect this the set-screws E E are loosened, whereupon the plates may he slid outwardly so far as will admit of the passage of the rods b b between the inner edge of the lower portion of the plates and the outer-edge of the hanging supports. The rods having been placed in such one of the open slots (1 as desired, the plates are then slid back to the po sition shown in the drawings,thus securing the rods in place. These draft-rods, as at e, terminate in books, to which the team may he hitched in the usual manner.

It will be observed that the draft-evener L is applied to the machine in rear of the traction of the wheels 0 O, and in a position at right angles with the line of track or forward movement of the machine, and that as the power of the team is immediately attached to the draft-rods in a'position at the forward part of the machine which never greatly varies from the plane of the evener, the even and steady Working of the machine is thereby secured under all ordinary conditions of work to be'done; and, further, the d raft'rods cannot form so great an angle with respect to thcevener. Therefore less bind will be experienced and the evener will always be free to play on its pivot-support.

M M are the frames which carry the shovels N N directly. Each of these frames has a rolling side beam, f, and a firm side beam, g. Tlte forward end of each frame is secured to the hangers G by means of a pivot-eyebolt, h. The other end is left free, but issuspeuded upon pivoted foot-levers or treadles H, as represented, so as to be raised and lowered at will by the driver. The rolling side beam is connected to the eyebolt h by its forward end, and to a half side beam of the frame M (which is rigid) at its rear end. This last connection is effected by a strong pivot-screw, j, as represented in Fig. 1. A jointed lever-frame, O P

Q, is connected to these rolling beams, and by means thereof the driver can atwill givealateral adjustment to the right or left, so as to clear any straggling corn-plants when the row is irregular. The rear ends of the shovel frames or beams are mounted upon auxiliary wheeled supports It R, which are adjustable to gage the depth that the shovels shall on ter the ground by means of pins and holes, as sh own at K, or otherwise. These wheeled devices prevent too much drag in the rear plows or shovels, as will be evident. The forward plows are sufficientlysupported on the wheelsOO to prevent any drag in them. This is an important thing in connection with wheeled cultivators having pendent shovel-frames.

T T T represent a jointed stiffener between the shovel frames, at the rear ends thereof. The vertical parts T T of this stiffener are firm with the frames M. The horizontal parts T T are pivoted to these vertical parts, as at m m, and by being pivoted the frame on one side of the row may rise independent of the frame on the other side thereof, or vice versa. While this is so, if the two frames are raised together or worked on the same level a firm and, as it were, stil'f bracing between the beams is produced. The stiffener is elevated high enough to allow the young plants to escape under it, as will be evident from the drawings.

If it should be desirable, the parts T T of the stiffener may be crossed, as illustrated in Fig. 3 by red lines. This will make the stifiener rigid. To secure this change two holes should be provided in each of the parts T T as at n a. My great object, however, is to provide a means which will hold the beatnframes steady against lateral strain, and at the same time beflexible when vertical adjustment is necessary. ture in connection with wheeled cultivators with elevated draftrods and with pendent shovels.

What I claim as myinvention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The braces T T andjointed braces T T ,in combination with the pendent shovelsN, wh en arranged and operating as set forth.

2. The auxiliary wheeled supports R at the rear end of pendent shovel-frames M, in combination with the main supporting-wheels O O, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of the half rolling beams f with the pendent frames M and auxiliary supporting-wheels R, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of the jointed brace T T T, pendent shovel frames M, half rolling beams fand foot-lever i, and hand-levers O P, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

LAWRENCE B. WATERMAN.

' Witnesses:

P. A. FISCHER, E. ScHAFER. I

This also is an important tea-- 

